Southern Baptists Stand By for Relief Work as Wilma Makes Landfall
Hurricane Wilma made landfall on southwest Florida as a Category 3 storm early Monday after building up speed and strength as it pulled off Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.
Hurricane Wilma made landfall on southwest Florida as a Category 3 storm early Monday after building up speed and strength as it pulled off Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.
Residents and tourists in Cancun stepped out from the swealtery shelters to the flooded streets and sun-filled sky while tens of thousands of people in Florida faced their round of Wilma's winds as strong as 125 mph.
Landing near Cape Romano at 6:30 a.m. EDT, Wilma was expected to move northeast along the Atlantic coast, arriving off Canada by early Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.
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As the National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management agency stand alert and ready for rescue and relief, the third largest disaster relief network in North America has also staged their mobilization for the storm.
The North American Mission Board disaster staff held a conference this past weekend with leadership from The Red Cross, The Salvation Army and the Florida Baptist Convention in preparation for Florida's eighth hurricane in 15 months, according to the NAMB.
The aid workers planned for Southern Baptist disaster relief units to be mobilized to the Jacksonville or northwest Florida panhandle areas and for the redeployment of some 20 relief teams that have been serving in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas in the aftermath of Katrina.
As reports revealed Wilma's strongest winds were on its south side, Mickey Caison, manager of NAMB's disaster operations center, warns that the most devastation will be felt on the lower east coast of Florida although landfall occurred far from the Keys.
"The back side of the hurricane always does the most damage," said Caison.
Wilma's destructive path and the continuation of the official hurricane season until the end of November prompts the American public to keep aid contributions flowing. Caison welcomes continual monetary support for Southern Baptist relief efforts.
Donations to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief may be made at www.NAMB.net.
